The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-26
CAPTAIN COOK.
Wonderful Career of the Man Who Virtually
Made Geography New Science.

Made Geography New Science.
We do not often realize how TAR the
discovery and settlement of America
were due to the circumstance that thie
continent lay directly across the path
from Europe to the East Indies. Had
there been a passage between North
and South America at the Isthmus of
Panama, even one no larger than NJ. de
Lesseps' proposed ship-canal, much Of
this northern division might have re-
NAMED unknown for generations
longer. When Henry Hudson explored
the river viii CHI bears his name, he was
looking for passage into the Pacific
Ocean. Hudson's Strait and Hudson's
Bay mark a similar search farther north.
The rapids Of Lachine on the st. Law
renee were called the China Rapids by
the French, because that people hoped by
This river to open direct passage to the
East. England was not less active than
ler neighbors, and in the last century
her growing interests in the East led to
he most thorough and extended ex-
olorations of our northern and western
shores
The foremost man in accomplishing
this work was Captain James Cook. He
was born at Marion, in the north riding
Of Yorkshire, England, October q,
1928. As his father was poor man,
tbe SOP was put on board a vessel of the
navy at an early a ge, and, under the
disadvantages of this position, educated
himself for command d. He was on board
the Mercury in Canada during the
French and English war of 1855. In
1853 Cook had so far distinguished HIM
self in mathematics that he was APP
pointed to observe the transit of Venus
in 1869, and for this purpose made his
first visit to the South Sea- as the Pacific
was commonly called. The Captain
doubled Cape Horn in June, 1869, dis
covered the Society Islands, and deter
mined the form and extent of New Tea
land. In 1770 he coasted along the
shores of Australia for more than six
hundred leagues, and returned home by
the way of Cape Good Hope.
Captain Cook made his second voyage
of discovery in 1772-1774. He again
circumnavigated the world, and discov-
cred New Caledonia. His third voyage
was begun July Il, 1776, eight days
after our Declaration of Independence.
The leading purpose of the voyage was
to introduce into the islands under the
tropic of Capricorn the domestic ami
mails of Europe. After having accom-
plished this, Captain Cook was to turn
to the north and explore the west coast
of America as far as 90 : north latitude.
From that point he would try to find
his way into the Atlantic between Asia
and America. His command consisted
of the Discovery and the Resolution,
and he was accompanied by astrono-
mers and naturalists. Going by the
way of Cape Good Hope, and having
discharged his first duty, Cook turned
toward the north, and on the 18th of
January, 1878, he discovered the Sand
witch Islands. On the 9TH of March he
reached our northwest coast in latitude
A deg. 33 min. This coast he followed
until he reached latitude 20 deg. A min.
N, more than ten degrees farther than
his instructions required him to go. As
nothing but ice was to be seen before
him, he returned to the Sandwich Is
lands, and spent the winter there.
The death of Captain Cook, on the
14th of February, 1873, resulted from a
misunderstanding with the natives. On
the day before they had taken boat
belonging to the Discovery, having little
idea of the rights Of property. That
morning Cook went on shore to recover
the boat. BY some unauthorized per-
soN a shot was fired, and chief was
killed. Immediately the Captain was
set upon, and murdered in retaliation.
We can not easily estimate the i'm
portance of Cooks discoveries. Before
his day nearly half the surface
of the globe was unknown, or
knowledge of it was in much con-
fusion. The improvements which have
since been made originated in his enter
prise and eXertions. Geography has
become Il new science, and reached such
completeness as to leave only some UNI
important parts of the globe to be ex-
plored, if ever the ice and the cold will
permit. In conn ection with the last
voyage of Cook. there is an incident
told which is of interest. As he had
already conducted two expeditions, the
Government felt that it could not claim,
though it greatly desired, his services.
He was consulted on every detail OF
the plans, but was left free to volunteer
his services, if he would. At last it
came to naming the commander of the
expedition. Cook met with the COM
Lmissioners at the house of Lord Sand
witch to dine, and to talk over this APP
pointment. At the table the enthu-
siasm of the Captain became so much
reused by what he heard said of the i'm
portance and glory of the undertaking,
that he started up and exclaimed: Il
will conduct it myself!' This was just
what the others desired, and had been
working to bring about. - YOuth'S COM